Support structure



June 8 1955 R. A; GRouT 3,188,038

SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed July l5, 1965 INVENTOR. RUSSELL ALLEN GROUT FIG -4 a0 74 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent() This invention relates totsupport structure. The invention relates. more particularly toV support structure and attachment means therefor.

The invention relates still morevparticularly to support structure for a mirror or other device and attachment means for the securingthereof to a surface or element of a portion of an automobile or the like.

An object of this invention is toprovide support struc support structure and attachment means therefor which can be produced at relatively low cost and which is longllved. i j

Other ,objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode ofI operation, as will become more apparent from. the followingdescription.

In the drawing: p

VFIGURE l is an exploded perspective view of support structure and attachment means therefor.V This view also shows a mirror carried by the support structure and a attached. FIGURE 2 is a side sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, of support structure and attachment means in positions of assembly and attachment thereof.

`FIGURE 3 is a side sectional View, drawn on the same scale as FIGURE 2, showing the support structure and attachment means secured to a surface or element or the` like.

i FIGURE 4 is a side sectional View, similar to FIGURE 3, showing a'modicati-on .in the support structure and attachment means'of this invention.

of this invention isshown in the form of a base `member p 10. The base has a lower edge 11 which is adapted to engage a support surface or an element or` the like.A The base 10 is shown as having a stem 12` attached thereto. The stem 12 may bef attached to the base 10 in any suitable manner, such as integrally or the like.

Herein the stem 12 is shown as having a connection portion 13 which has a mirror housing 14 carried thereby in any suitable manner. The mirror housing 14 carries a mirror 16.

YIt is' to be understood, however, that the base member 1t? may have any one of many types of elements or devices attached thereto for support thereby. i y

. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the base member 1@ has a cavity 18 therein. The cavity 18 has an opening at the lower edge 11 of the base 10. Within the cavity 18 and adjacent the lower edge'11` is an inclined wall surface Ztl which slopes toward the lower edge 11l while also sloping toward the central portion ofthe base It?.

. surface or element to which the support, structureis v f Referring to the drawing in detail, support structure $238,333 Patented ,inne 8, 1965 Icev tion of the cavity 18 while also sloping toward the lower edge 11.

The wall surfaces 20 and 22 are shown as being substantially parallel one with respect to the other, but such parallel relationship is not necessary so long as the surfaces 20 and 22 extend in substantially the same 'general direction with respect to the edge 11.

The base member 10 has a screw hole 28 leading to the cavity 1S. A recessed portion 3) is shown encompassing the hole 23.

Attachment means in the form of a plate or bracket 34,

has an engagement portion 36 at one end thereof. The engagement portion 36 has an inclined engagement surface 38. The plate 34 also has an engagement portion 4i?. The engagement portion 40 is provided with an engagement surface 42.

Preferably, a part of the engagement portion 36 and/ or a part of the engagement portion 40 is slightly resiliently movable with respect to the other portions of the plate 34.

The plate or bracket 34 has a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough, there being a hole 44 which may be elongate, as shown. The plate 34 also has a hole 46.

The plate 34 is adapted to be attached to any suitable surface or element. Herein a surface or element 43 is shown as beingprovided with a hole 50 and a hole y52. The holes 44 and 46 of the plate 34 are adapted to be aligned with the holes Si? and 52, respectively of the surface 48. The elongate hole 44 in the plate 34 permits such alignment of the respective holes without the necessity of precise spacing of the holes 50 and 52.

A screw S4 extends through the hole 44 of the plate 34 and is threadedly secured within the hole 5t) for attachment of the plate 34 to the surface 48.

Then,` the base 10 is placed over the bracket or plate 34, as shown in FIGURE 2. The left hand portion of the base 14B, as shown in FIGURE 2, is hooked over the engagement portion 36 of the bracket 34 as the inclined wall 20 within the cavity 18 is placed into engagement with the engagement surface 38 of the engagement portion 36. During this procedure the base 10 is lslightly inclined with respect to the plate 34, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the right hand portion of the base 10 spaced slightly from the plate 34. Then the right hand portion of the base 10 is moved closer to the plate 34, and the inclined wall surface 22 comes into contact with the engagement surface 42.

Then a screw 56, havingv a head 5S, is inserted through the hole 28 of the base 10 and through the hole 45 of the plate 34, and the screw 56 is `threa'dedinto the hole 52 of the surface 48. As the screw 56 is` threaded into y the hole 52, theV inclined wall surface 22 is forced with wall surface 22 which slopes away from the central porincreasing pressure against the engagement surface 42 of the plate 34. Cam action of the inclinedwall surface with respect to the engagement surface 42 as the base' is drawn closer tothe bracket 34 causes the base 10 to be urged toward the right. VDue to the fact thatV the inclined engagement surface 38 serves as an abutment to limit movement of the base 10 toward the right, the force between the inclined wall 2t) and the engagement surface 38 increases as the pressure of the inclined wall surface 22 against the engagementfsurface 42 increases. The slightly resiliency of the upper part of either one'or both of the engagement portions 38 or '49 permits slight movement thereof toward the opposite engagement porengagement portion 40. r

Thus, the base 1t) is firmly attached to the plate 34 as the screw 56 is threaded into thehole 52, as shown in FIGURE 3.` Preferably, the peripheral lower edge 11 of the base 1h is in engagement with the surface 48 when the inclined wall surfaces 20 and 22 are in firm engagement with the respective engagement surfaces 3S and 42.

For aesthetic reasons, the head 58 of the screw 56 is disposed within the recess 30 of the base 10, as shown in FIGURE 3.

From the foregoing description and drawings it is to be understood that the base 10 is thus securely attached to the surface 4S and the attachment means is substantially obscure within the base l0.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of this invention in which a base 6@ has yan abutment portion 62 and an abutmentportion 64, the abutment portions 62 and 64 being at opposite parts of the base 60. The abutment portion 62 is preferably, recessed, as shown, while the abutment portion 64 is, preferably, inclined, as shown.

A plate or bracket 66 has an abutment portion 6% at one end thereof and an abutment portion 70 at the other end thereof. The bracket 66 is secured to a support element 74 by means of a screw 76. The base 60 is secured to the bracket 66 and to the element '74 by means of a screw 80. The abutment portion 6% of the bracket 66 engages the abutment portion 62 of the base 60 as the left hand portion of the base 60 is hooked overthe abutment portion 63 of the bracket 66. As the screw 80 is threaded into the element 74, cam action between the abutment portions 64 and 70 firmly draws the base 66 into secure attachment to the bracket 66 and to the element 74.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof, and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended' claims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. Structure for attachment to a support member comprising:

a bracket attachable to a portion of a support member, the bracket having a first engagement surface, the rst engagement surface forming an acute angle with'a portion of a support member to which the bracket is adapted to be attached, the bracket also having a second engagement surface, the second engagement surface forming an obtuse angle with a portion of a support member to which the bracket is adapted to be attached.

a base provided with an engagement portion positionable within the acute angle formed between the first engagement surfaceof the bracket and a support member to which the bracket is attached, the base also having a wall, the wall being engageable with the second engagement surface of the bracket when the rst engagement surface of the bracket is engaged by said engagement portion of the base,

means for attaching the base to the bracket and to a support member, said means urging the base toward the bracket so that the wall of the base is urged into engagement with the second engagement surface of the bracket.

2. Support structure for attachment to a support element comprising:

a base provided with a cavity therein and an engagement edge,

a plurality of internal wall surfaces within the cavity, both of the wall surfaces being inclined in the same general direction with respect to the engagement edge, a bracket having a size to t within the cavity of the base,

means for attaching the bracket to a support element7 the bracket having a pair of engagement portions, the engagement portions of the bracket being engaged by the wall surfaces of the base as the bracket is disposed within the cavity,

means for attaching the base to the bracket and to a support element, said means urging the wall surfaces of the base intoV engagement with the engagement portions of the bracket.

3. Support structure for securing a mirror or other device to a support element comprising:

a base having a cavity, there being a plurality of spacedapart engagement portions within the cavity, one of the engagement portions being recessed and one of the engagement portions being inclined,

a bracket,' the bracket being disposible within the cavity of the base, the bracket being provided with a plurality of abutment portions, there being an abutment portion engageable with each of the engagement portions of the base,

and means for securing thev base to the bracket and to a support element, said means urging the inclined engagement portion of the base into engagement with one of the abutment portions of the bracket thus urging the recessed engagement portion of the base into engagement with another of the abutment portions of the bracket.

4. A base assembly for attachment to a portion of an automobile or the like comprising:

an elongate plate,

means for attaching the plate to portion of an automobile or the like, the plate having an inclined surface at each end thereof, both of the surfaces being inclined in the same general direction with respect to the plate,

an elongate base having an engagement edge, the base having a cavity therein which is open at theengagement edge and which is adapted to receive the plate, the cavity having a pair of inclined walls therewithin, there being an inclined wall at each of the opposite portions of the cavity, each of the inclined walls being inclined in the same general direction with respect to the engagement edge of the base, the base itting over the plate with one wall of the cavity engaging one surface of the plate and the other wall of the cavity engaging the opposite surface of the plate,

means for forcing each inclined wall of the cavity against its respective inclined surface of the plate and for securing the base with respect to the plate.

5. Support structure for attachment to an attachment element comprising:

a base provided with a plurality of substantially parallel inclined walls,

a connection plate provided with a plurality of inclined engagement surfaces, there being one inclined engagement surface for each of the inclined wallsof the base, each of the inclined walls of the base being engageable by one of the inclined engagement surfaces of the plate,

means for attachment of the base tothe plate and to anbracket being -attachable to a portion of a support member with the lirst inclined engagement surfacek forming an acute angle with a portion of a support member to which the bracket is adapted to beattached and with the second inclined engagement surface forming an obtuse angle with respect to a portion of a supportmember to which the bracket is adapted to be attached,

a base provided with a cavity therein, there being an abutment wall within the cavity which is engageable with the first inclined engagement surface of the bracket, there being an abutment wall within the i cavity which is engageable with the second inclined engagement surface of the bracket, means for securing the base to the bracket and the thus urging the first engagement wall of the base into engagement with the first engagement surface of the f bracket. Y

8. Support structure for a mirror or the like for at-V aisance a bracket attachable to a support member, the bracket having a first hole therethrough for receiving a screw attachable to a support member, the bracket havingV a plurality of angularly inclined engagement surfaces,

one of the engagement surfaces 'of Vthe bracket being A a first angularly inclined engagement surface and forming an acute angle with a portion of a supportV member to which the bracket is adapted to be attached,

bracket to a support' member, said means urging 10 One 0f ille angularly inclined engagement Surfaces 0f said abutment walls into engagement with said in`l tbe bracket being a Second engagement Surface and clined engagement surfaces, Y vforming an obtuhseangle with a portion of a support 7. Structure for attachment to a support member commeinbei' 't0 Which tbe bracket. 1S. ndililledV t0 be p'rising; t n n attached, the second angularly inclined engagement a bracket provided with a plurality of engagement sur- Surface being generally' Parallel With the lSt angufaces, there being a r'st engagement surface and a lai'lY inclined Silf'ece, n

second engagement surface, the bracket being attacha bese PieViCled i/iin i niet Pennen, fine fS'f POllOn able to a portion of a support member with the rst ef the bese being disposed Wilnn .Sein ecute angle engagement Surface forming an acute angle with a i intermediate said first vangularly inclined engageportion of a Support member to which the bracket nient .surface of the bracket and a support member is adapted to be attached and with the Second en to whichhthe bracket is adapted to be attached, said gagement Surface' forming an obtuse angle with 1.e first portion 1of ltlie'base being engageablc with said spect to a portion of a Support Inember `tc, which first angulariy inclined engagement surface of the the bracket is adapted to be attached, n bfflekeb a base provided with Va plurality of engagement Walls, 2a the case having an linclined Wall engageabll with the there being a rst engagement Wan which is engnge second angularly inclined engagement suriace of the able with the first engagement surface of the bracket, bacet there being a second engagement Wall which is en there being a hole in the base and in the bracket adiagageable with the second engagement surface of the Cent tll' Second ,angularly mclmd engflgement sur' bracket, face Oi the bracket,1 the holes being aligned so that' means for securing the base to the bracket and the a Scrw may pass merehrough-for alle chibent t0 e bracket to a support member, said means urging said Suppolt member the Screw urging the mclmed Wan second engagement wall of the base into engagement of the bese mm engagement Wlth the Second angu' with the second engagement surface of the bracket lady mclmedngggement. surface of the .bracket and 3o thus urging said iii'st portion of the base into engagenient with the first angularly inclined engagement surface. lt?. Structure for support by a support member comprising:

a bracket attachable to a support member, the bracket being provided with a bodyportion having a plutachment thereof to a support portion of an automobile or 40 the like comprising:

a base provided with a cavity, the base being provided with an engagement edge surface encompassing the cavity and adapted to engage a support portion of the automobile or `the like,

rality of spaced-apart inclined engagement surfaces being inclined in the same general direction, a base provided with a recess therein, the recess being a pair of inclined walls Within the cavity, the walls .40 gntgvitggeca, lrfaltnggosh being spaced apart, both, of the inclined walls being engage the inclined engagement Surfaces of the angularly disposed in the sam; glnral direction with bracket respect to the edge surface o t e ase, I

a bracket provided with a pair of holes therethrough, Onierflgtl l-glmsicilfaildlehillgfcigrfogieieb there being a first hole and a second hole the rst Vand forming an acute angle with respect to the body hole of the bracket being adapted to receive a screw portion of the bracket so that Whnn an abutment threaded into a Support portioll of we autompbile portion of the base is in engagement with the rst 01' the like, the bracket also bemgprovlded Wlth a surface of the body portion gf the bracket a portion Pali 0f spaced apart abutment Portions; each of the 55 of the base is within said acute angle and interl abutment Portions having an abutment Surface both mediate said first surface Vof the bracket anda supof the abutment surfaces being inclinedin'tlle Same port member Y t general difeeiion Will? respect t? the bracket one of the inclined engagement surfaces of the bracket the bracket fitting within the cavity of the base with being a Second Snfnce and facing away from a Sun the inclined Walls 0f the cavity engaging the abut' 60 port member to which the bracket' is attached and ment SiifeceS 0f the biaelet, forming an obtuse angle with respect to the body the base having a hole therein leading to the cavity and portion of the bracket the Second Surface of tbe in alignment with the second hole of the bracket bracket being engaged by one of the abutment porwhen the bracket is within the cavity, the hole of tions of the base, the base and the second hole 0f the bracket being 65 and means adjacent the second surface of the bracket adapted to receive a screw which is threadedv into a for attaching the base to the bracket and to a Supsupport portion of anV automobile or the like, threadport member, Said means urging each of th@ abuting action of the screw into a support portion causment portions of the base toward its respective ing increasing forces between each of said inclined engagement surface of the bracket and thus secur- Walls and the abutment surface which is in engage- 7 0 ing the base to the bracket and to a support member. ment therewith so that the base is securely attached lll. Structure for attachment to a support member to the bracket and to a support portion of an autocomprising: mobile or the like. a bracket attachable to a support member, the bracket 9. Structure for mounting upon a support member being provided with al plurality of engagement sur comprising:

faces, there being a first inclined engagement surface and a second inclined engagement surface, both of the inclined engagement surfaces being inclined in the same general direction, the rst inclined engagement surface facing the support member and the second inclined engagement surface facing away from a support member,

a base provided with a plurality of abutment portions, there being a first abutment portion of the base which is engageable with the irst inclined engagement surface of the bracket as the abutment portion of the baser is disposed between the engagement surface of the bracket and a support member, there being a second abutment portion of the base which is engageable with the second engagement surface of the bracket,

means engaging the base and extending through the base and through the bracket and into a support member for securing the base to the bracket and to a support member, said means being adjacent the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Schoeld 248-223 Rastetter 248-223 Srnith 248-223 X Whitman 248-223 X Koonter 248-205Y FiebelkornV 248-223 CLAUDE A. La ROY, Primary Examiner. 

3. SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SECURING A MIRROR OR OTHER DEVICE TO A SUPPORT ELEMENT COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A CAVITY, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF SPACEDAPART ENGAGEMENT PORTIONS WITHIN THE CAVITY, ONE OF THE ENGAGEMENT PORTIONS BEING RECESSED AND ONE OF THE ENGAGEMENT PORTIONS BEING INCLINED, A BRACKET, THE BRACKET BEING DISPOSIBLE WITHIN THE CAVITY OF THE BASE, THE BRACKET BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF ABUTMENT PORTIONS, THERE BEING AN ABUTMENT PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OF THE ENGAGEMENT PORTIONS OF THE BASE, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE BASE TO THE BRACKET AND TO A SUPPORT ELEMENT, SAID MEANS URGING THE INCLINED ENGAGEMENT PORTION OF THE BASE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE ABUTMENT PORTIONS OF THE BRACKET THUS URGING THE RECESSED ENGAGEMENT PORTION OF THE BASE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ANOTHER OF THE ABUTMENT PORTIONS OF THE BRACKET. 